§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will make a statement on the ministerial meeting with representatives of the National Union of Tailoring and Garment Workers regarding the unemployment problem in the tailoring and garment industry; and what was the nature of their representation and his reply thereto.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerOn 15 July my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade and I had a full discussion with a delegation from the National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers about factors currently affecting the performance and prospects of the United Kingdom clothing industry. A number of issues were raised. In particular the union pressed for the removal of VAT from all clothing, and for finance at preferential rates of interest for manufacturing industry. We explained that both these proposals posed great practical difficulties and ran counter to the Government's wider economic and fiscal policies.
We noted, too, the importance which the union attached to an extension of the temporary short-time working compensation scheme which I have drawn to the attention of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment. The union also sought renewal of the multi-fibre arrangement on terms which would allow a tightening of controls on imports from low-cost sources. The Minister for Trade describe the progress made so far 252W in discussions within the Community, and stressed the Government's continuing determination to secure a tough and effective arrangement to succeed the present MFA when it expires at the end of this year.